When you are in recovery from a substance use disorder, you know there are a number of things you can do to help yourself continue to steer clear of drugs and alcohol. For example, you know the importance of attending 12-Step meetings such as AA or other recovery meetings so that you can get and give ongoing support in the presence of others who know what you have been through and are going through now.
You also likely know that eating nutritious food, getting enough restful sleep, and exercising regularly are great ways to support your recovery. Each of those things firms up the foundations of your physical and mental health—and good physical and mental health is foundational to your efforts to avoid returning to the substances that used to define your life.
Other ways you can support your recovery might not be top of mind when your journey gets underway. In this blog entry, we are going to consider one of those less obvious things you can do to protect your recovery.
Let’s talk about keeping the spaces you regularly occupy tidy and clean.
Tidiness Can Mean Less Stress
You have almost certainly experienced a moment when you need to find something right away—and you just can’t. Maybe it was your car keys in the morning when you were already running late. Maybe it was a birthday card you had to get in the mail to have any chance of getting it to its recipient on time. Maybe it was the notes you printed out for the presentation you are supposed to give in a few minutes.
And why couldn’t you find whatever you were looking for? One likely reason is that it has disappeared in an overly cluttered space.
It is easy to understand why clutter accumulates in the spaces in which we live and work. Our lives are so busy, we tend to set things down with the intention of dealing with them later. But then we don’t deal with them at all—and suddenly there are piles all around and a general sense of chaos that makes it difficult to find anything.
Working against the natural tendency to let clutter take over can significantly reduce feelings of stress. That is true in part because a tidier space makes it easier to find what you need when you need it. But it is also true that an organized space supports feelings of calm better than a cluttered space does. Amazingly, that is the case even when your eyes are closed; a tidy sleeping space supports quality rest.
Cleanliness Can Mean Better Health
A cluttered space is one thing. A dirty space is another.
Keeping your spaces clean—free of dust, spills, crumbs, dirty dishes, pet fur (and “accidents”), and more—is good for your physical health. Allowing allergens to build up or food residue to go bad or attract bugs can lead to health issues of one kind or another. As we have noted, when you are in recovery from a substance use disorder, maintaining good physical health is important to maintaining your recovery.
Cleaning up some stray crumbs or running a dust cloth over a flat surface or two might not seem like much, but these small actions really can help you feel better at home and work. And when you take actions that make you feel better, you are doing a better job of protecting your recovery.
Remember, It Is Not All or Nothing
If you have let a lot of stuff accumulate, have let your spaces get dirty, or both, you might be feeling a little overwhelmed. It might seem like you could not possibly get everything straightened up and cleaned.
We have good news: You do not have to do everything at once. Clearing a single pile on your kitchen table or your desk at work is a step in the right direction. And if you can keep that space cleared and clean, you can tackle another space. Every improvement supports your efforts to leave drugs and alcohol firmly in your past.
So, no matter how much clutter you might be facing, do not despair. Make a little progress now. Make a little more tomorrow. Eventually, that progress will add up—and you and your recovery will be in good shape going forward.
We Are Here to Help You Clean Up Your Situation
If you are struggling with drugs or alcohol, the odds are good that not much is going right in your life right now. Your health—both mental and physical—is likely suffering, and your relationships, work life, finances, and more may be unraveling. The whole situation is a mess.
At Bel Aire Recovery Center—located near Wichita, Kansas—we can help you clean up that mess and reclaim your life. Our residential program includes a personalized treatment plan as you move through medically supervised detoxification and our rehabilitation program (which also offers care for co-occurring mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, or issues rooted in trauma). We follow your time in treatment with a commitment to aftercare that provides ongoing support and resources as your recovery journey gets underway.
When you are ready to make a lasting change, we are here to help.
